CC, yeah, the Europe is having none of unvaccinated people's bs. Austria has lockdown for unvaccinated; Latvia became first European country to take away voting rights from unvaccinated legislators etc. Not quite civil war, but there's certainly a level of shitshow we're going to see in near future, to my mind. I'm really happy my dad will be eligible for 3rd dose quite soon (they'll open the 50+ group for that).

Liz, great race, girl!

Cathy, I totally agree re: winter training for spring races not being fun. I find it much better to suffer a little in summer heat, then do a great autumn race in late Aug/Sep/early Oct! Any races plans for you in 2022? Goals? DD being hesitant driving faster is certainly a plus

Sandy, snow? <3 Send some here!

Off to my Excel stuff; need to get some work done to fit running, dinner @ O'Learys and watching soccer tonight!

3 for me this morning. Keeping it nice and slow for recovery. Just kind of running by feel until I start the Winter Training Team. Need to do some weight workouts too.

Just me and Baby B today. I had calls all day yesterday so HCDH was in charge of her. He had to go into work today so its just her and I. Going to be a long day..LOL. Will probably take her for a little walk and maybe run up to the Dollar Store. Since we are hosting Thanksgiving, I am shopping for napkins, plates, etc., at the Dollar Store. Not spending an arm and leg on supplies!

Nothing else exciting in my world!

Cathy – Nice run yesterday! What is your next race? I would love the mid 20’s! Going to warm here a bit this week and I am sad, LOL. Well, I guess when you decide to do Boston you will have to train in the Winter, right? 😊 Laughing at DD and the driving! Glad younger DD didn’t have COVID. Hoping Baby B is negative but kinda hope she is positive. If she is positive it means she would be one of those lucky ones that don’t have symptoms. I didn’t realize TF wasn’t traveling anymore!

Sandy – I meant to say yesterday that our yard is BURRIED in leaves! HCDH just hasn’t had the time to out and deal with them. He was planning to take a day this week to do it while baby B was in daycare. Not anymore, ha. He may try this weekend or next week if she is good to go to daycare. I was going to ask if you were still going to the fitness class. Did she decide against moving? Totally agree – no pressure just needs to be the name of the game for me for now! I am OK with that. Don’t get me started on a COVID rant. We had planned a Thanksgiving here with both families and everyone was all for it..but suddenly now they aren’t. I think most of them are using COVID as an excuse to be honest. You can go to a concert but not a Thanksgiving? Everyone is vaccinated with many of them having the booster. I don’t care if they come or not, but don’t use it as an excuse. Just over it. It's mainly HCDH's family. SO AWESOME that you have someone to watch the kids while you are on your trip!! That is great news. Your trip sounds great!!! Oh god, I can’t even begin to think about getting into a swimsuit! UGH.

Laura – Clusterflack, I like that. WMTT – Winter Marathon Training Team. Just the half training for me though. I am with you – I like to workout and shower before work. Lately my shower has been coming late afternoon, though.

Docket – Smart to not overdo anything!!! Take it easy!

Run4kupcakes – Entire week off next week? That sounds awesome! I took off day after Thanksgiving and week after Christmas, of course that guy that always volunteers me for things is covering – and he now says he may not be able to! WTF!!! I am his boss now! UGHH. Okay, sorry just a vent. I think you are right about the booster. How is MIL?

Kathryn – Foodie tour sounds so fun!!! Enjoy! I am living through your pics

Kilmisters-  You have a busy evening! How are the littles?

Karen – Good luck today. I am sure you will be happy when it’s DONE!

I have to go kill this dang fly. Have a great day everyone!

Morning! I get to run 2 today! Will try them at lunch. Barre tonight.

Kat, enjoy!

Elina, I wish we could do that here but those are the same assholes that wanted the economy open so people die to cut their hair.

Karen, yay! Hoping you get to sleep on your bed tonight!

Liz, nice 3.

HCK, good luck with the training!

Kats, sounds like you’re really enjoying your trip!  Last time I was in Paris I switched to Starbucks after 3 days, I like a lot of coffee and the 6oz cups at the local places just didn’t cut it.

Kilmisters, good luck with your busy day and enjoy your dinner out!

Karen, good luck with the movers

Liz, nice recovery run.  So glad you had such an awesome race experience! So weird that HCDH’s husband is flaking on Thanksgiving, haven’t most of them already had covid or don’t believe in it?  Hopefully a smaller group ends up taking some of the stress off of hosting and you get to relax and enjoy it more.  I was totally inspired watching Sat’s race and took advantage of the post-race sale to register for next year.  I even have a plan for how to deal with the summer.  I saw the 10k is Apr 23^rd, any chance you’ll do that?

HCK, nice 3 hope that means you’re feeling better.  Good luck with all the tests.  Gingerbread latte was the only holiday flavor I’ve ever liked, I miss it too.

Damaris, enjoy your 2!

Sue, great job on spin class!

Cathy, your recovery seems to be going very well.  My Garmin suggested 4 x 7min @ 7:30 for me last week so yeah 6:55 seems pretty on point for you.  I agree you could be faster if you went for it but you also seem to be really good at not getting injured so maybe you’re on to something.

Sandy, nice runs!  Wow I’m a little jealous you’re already done with the leaves, most of ours are still on the trees.  Very nice that your fur babies will be well taken care of while you’re gone.  I hope you have some time off planned before Feb though, seems like you’ve been working really hard at the job and need a break!

LC Runs, ughh on the snow already!  I really like running mid-morning.  It feels good to set some work done, take a break and then have new energy for work stuff again.  But it only works if you don’t run the risk of getting caught up on work and not able to step away.

6 mi this am, I tried something new.  I turned my watch on and hid it under my sleeves and didn’t look at it again til I was a block from home.  I ran purely by feel mostly easy with a few stretches of moderately hard.  It felt good to run for at least a little bit where my HR got elevated, hopefully I don’t regret it.  I’m slowly working on putting together some 2022 running goals.  I feel like 2021 was a big step backwards for me and I don’t want to waste 2022.

I've missed some of the postings while I have been here, but skim when I can.  Today, after my foodie tour, I failed and came back to the hotel to nap.  Now it's getting dark, oops.

Elina, being over here in a well vaccinated country, it is interesting to read all the news.  Sadly, the US seems worse...  Hope you enjoy the game tonight.

Karen, hoping them move went well.  Hell, that is the easy part as long as they don't break stuff.  Next up, unpacking!!!  HAH!  Don't envy you.  I still have unpacked stuff in the garage.

Lizzie, I hope you and Baby B are having a decent day.

Kathi, I sheepishly had to admit to the born and raised guide from Lisbon that I prefer Starbucks.  I had to explain I don't really like coffee, so I have to put lots of sweetener in it - syrupy lattes.  It is so bitter here.  Good luck getting your stuff completed.

Damaris, you had snow, yes?  Heavenly for you!  A couple from Toronto were on the tour today and we chatted snow.  YUCK!

Sue, glad you enjoyed spin class.

CC, glad your "semi-naked" run was good!  Let's hope 2022 is a better year in EVERY respect.

Food tour was enjoyable.  We went to some local places and ate more local foods, which is good, because I am not getting that for dinner.  I'm getting more upscale variations.  It's been very good.  Today we had shredded cod, which is very traditional - and very good.  Apparently there are hundreds of recipes.  Cod is their main food even though it isn't native.  It is imported dried/salted from Iceland and Norway.  We also walked around some of Lisbon, learning more history.  Interesting at the contradictory stories from two different guides on some things.  Not major, just little tidbits.  Tonight dinner is at a wine restaurant.  Sommelier Lisbon, so I would assume the wine is good.  We shall see.

Tomorrow I have a wine/cheese 2 hour lunch.  Kinda bummed because it is smack dab  in the middle of the day, makes sightseeing cut in two for the day.  Thursday I have zero plans.  One part of the city is a 30min cab ride, but is a must do.

LOTS AND LOTS of hills!!!  Weather has been outstanding.  65-70 and sunny, actually gets quite warm walking around.  Couldn't ask for more.  And my hotel is nice.  Easy to walk to much of the city.  And it is a few buildings down from a theater, so I get to hear it when my windows are open.

One more thing... OMG OMG OMG!!!  They have a custard tart that is just to die for.  Suppose I should get a photo one day.  Pastel Da Nata.  Creamy custard goodness in a flaky pastry shell.

Toodles.  Off to dinner in a bit, shall have some cheap wine before I go.

K

Tasty Tuesday!  I remembered to look for Mulled Wine in a bottle and bought some!  Can't wait to try it after work today.  5mi for me again this morning.  Chilly and windy.  Went later after walking with neighbor friend so took my life in my hands - those parents are nutty drivers trying to get their littles to school.  Sheesh!

Kat - glad you are having such a great time!  Such fun things you have planned.  Kinda funny - I know EXACTLY the tart.  I had one while in Macau back in 2012 (had to look that up).  I was in HK for work and took the boat over for the day - mostly for the passport stamp haha.  Since Macau is a Portuguese territory, they were popular.  You can creep my FB pics to see for yourself 

Laura - glad you had an enjoyable run!  We will be BEGGING for 20*s and dry roads too soon haha.  I've been liking getting showered before work as well.  Though, I do now wait until it's light.  And, since most of my team is on Mountain Time, I never have meetings until 9am, it seems.  So, I've been good with working for an hour or so, run, shower, login for the day.  Feels good to get it done and it doesn't get trumped by a last minute meeting.

CC - oh, no need to be jealous I'm done with leaves - it's because it's cold and snowy - you are still experiencing autumn!    Exciting for signing up for Richmond!  Exciting to start putting together 2022 plans!  Oh, yep, after this week, I only have one more full week this year.  Next week Thanksgiving break (we get Thurs/Fri), full week, then I took the next 2 Fridays off, then because Christmas falls on a Saturday, we get Christmas Eve (a Fri) as a holiday and the following Monday for Christmas Day.  Oh, and our Jan 1 observed is on Dec 31 this year.  That's a lot of info that you probably don't care about LOL.  What are you guys doing for the holidays?  Will your parents come to you since your sister is nearby as well?

Sue - glad you had a good class.  Oh man, that stinks when you have to fight for a bike.

Damaris - hope your 2 went well!

HCK - YUCK on those tests.  Ugh - I hate when we get those things.  Ours seem to be sprinkled throughout the year.  One of the last ones I took allowed for you to test out which was AWESOME!  Nice you get the entire next week off.  Sounds like you could use the rest.  Sorry about your dad.  Hope he's doing okay.

Liz - awww I feel bad for all HCDHs leaves!  Does he have a rider to pick them up?  But you have some woods behind you, right?  Just pile them in there   What a DRAG so many are canceling Thanksgiving.  But, hey, at least your family will be there!  How is your SIL doing, btw?  And nephew!  What does he think of Baby B?  Oh, the trainer - she's honestly sort of a hot mess.  Her husband didn't get the jobs he was applying for so they did sign a 1 year lease on a rental house nearby.  I think they are still kind of flying by the seat of their pants?  IDK.  Now she's talking about starting a running adventure company where she takes people on fitness trips or something.  Who knows.  Oh, I used to go to the Dollar Store by my old place for snacks!  Popcorn, dontcha know.  Hope Baby B is being good for her mama today!

Karen - woohoo for getting your stuff!  Super exciting!  Consider it great cross training.  Oh, and, hey, my pet sitter's name is Karen - I took that as a good sign 

Elina - snow almost gone here for now but you can have every last flake!  Sounds like a fun night for you!

Ciao ciao for now...

Gluhwein----I need to make that!!!  Thanks Sandy!